Last Day – Today Friday! Deals end today, here’s your massive list of sports tech deals on Amazon Prime Days 2025! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $459, and the Fenix 8 for $100 off. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 Titanium for $645, the GoPro Hero 13 Black for $329, smart trainers, drones, action cams, and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
3
Have some fun in the travel section.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2024 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
I’ll be running the Chilly Hilly Half on Saturday, followed by a relatively long aerobic bike on Sunday. At least that’s the plan anyway!
San Francisco “Barbary Coast” historic trail walk on Sat, 5k run Sun
Swimming – Total Immersion style
Skiing on Saturday (more snow in Colorado), then a 10km trail run on Sunday.
Tomorrow I’ll do a short 10k Birthday run, cause it’s that day of the year ;-).
Sunday I will try to a 30k and hope I’m finally recovered from the flue.
1st bike of the year and maybe 6 mile rehab run on Sunday.
Saturday’s goal is to ride 45 miles at a steady tempo (35 miles via group ride) as I’m still recovering from surgery. Sunday, I’m just hoping to get sometime to ride if I can sneak away from the wife and kids.
2 hour ride on Saturday, hope for the same on bunny day.
I will go cross-country and alpine skiing because it is still possible in Norway :)
I’m looking forward to doing my first ride on the Neo that’s coming in tomorrow.
getting the road bike out and going for a spin, and hopefully a strength training session
My goal, and my absolute pleasure, is to go on snowboard for all the WE starting from 9:00 AM and ending when all the slope are already closed. No joking i use to chatch the last run in order to reach the highest peack using last skylit run.
I’ll be in Bardonecchia, Italy
L
5km parkrun on sat and then 20mile run as part of my marathon training :-)
Brick workout on saturday and swim on sunday.
1 hour of swim.
10k saturday and a bike ride of length TBD on Easter.
Weights on Saturday, long run and swim on Sunday! Snow on the ground in WI; someone forgot to tell winter that it’s spring
I’m planning on going for a paddle tomorrow morning, followed by a run on Sunday morning….
100 km road biking in this weekend
Doing 3 hard workout during the long weekend to prepare for the racing season that is just 3 weeks away!
I plan to knock out my FTP test Saturday and then relax and work on my truck Sunday!
Due to a recent additiont to the family, I’m on a whatever whenever schedule for the immediate future.
I plan on running for the first time in a week.
Today: an FTP test to check my progress, followed by evening swim
Saturday: 5k and swim
Sunday: 10 mile run followed by some relaxation
The grandkids (ages 2 & 4) are coming over for Easter weekend.
Cardio training (chase me grandpa); strength training (horsey back rides); etc…
Need I say more?
Dont plan to do anything but chill out. maybe some gym
Simply 2 10+ miles runs…still recovering from lower back issues.
50 km cycle on Friday
Time with the family for the rest of the weekend.. Unless the weather is too good.
I’ll go on a short 6km run today, to see how I’m recovering from the ITBS that flared up after an 18km run three days ago. If all goes well I’ll run a 9km on Sunday. If that works out well I’ll be able to run run the half marathon in my town on April 10!
And probably I’ll go bouldering or climbing for about two hours on Saturday.
WaterRower and treadmill followed by some sweet, sweet Easter chocolate!!
I’m currently training for my first sprint triathlon so this weekend with be:
Saturday 1000m Swim + 12mi cycle Brick
Sunday 15 mi cycle + 5k Run
Lot’s planned for the weekend: Long run with Marathon Pace segments on Saturday, and Long Ride on Sunday with a mid-distance run thrown in for good measure.
Thanks for the giveaway Ray!
Last 20 miler before my marathon on Saturday, followed by playing with my baby nephew. Church, yoga and spin on Sunday.
Two trainer rides totaling 4.5 hours of sweaty goodness.
This weekend I will do my Saturday morning spin class and then I will be biking with my family on Sunday
Weekend bike ride, 40-50 miles is the goal.
Heading to the mountains for some skate skiing!
I’m currently building for a 70.3, so I have a 4 hour ride, 2 hour run, swim, and a wedding to fit into this weekend. :)
I’ll be doing the necessary amount of cycling to get rid of the amount of chocolate that I’m going to eat … And maybe get my gf to start spring training
Friday: Go for a 2 mile active recovery run while the kids ride their bikes (did the Bataan Memorial March last Sunday. My feet are still jacked up.) Then squat, press, and deadlift.
Saturday: Stretch and recovery
Sunday: Easter Bike Sprints. Then squat, bench press, and deadlift.
Monday: 5 Mile run
I got a 4-day weekend, so I’m counting Friday and Monday.
This weekend, taper starts. Preparing the bike for next weekend’s race, etc.
Wonderful weekend . Eating hot cross buns and loving the weather to do some riding. Have to photograph a wedding and then more riding.
I’ll be eating one chocolate Lindt bunny each day for the next four days. It’s tough, but someone’s got to try! Oh and I might nudge a few hills between bunnies
Have a 2 hour ride followed by a short, easy run on Saturday. Sunday will be about a 75 minute run before the Easter egg hunting begins. Think I will be chasing around 7 kids (2 my own) under the age of 6 all day. Should be a nice extra workout with candy rewards!
First a good breakfast with some yellow, green, blue and/or red eggs (no worries, they are just painted). After that a nice and long spring ride. Spring is finally here!
I ran a 50 miles race last Saturday. I will take this coming weekend easy. Probably just a 13 miles run Sunday afternoon.
Riding the dam loop in austin
My plans for the weekend ahead and following 8-ish days is to just spin on the trainer with my cross bike. My brand new road bike is going to be out of commission as I ship my left-arm SISL2 off to 4iiii to get a Precision power meter installed. I wouldn’t have selected the 4iiii without your review. Incidentally, I ordered from clevertraining.com.
Its possible I’ll get out on the road with my cross bike, but I’d have to remove my cassette from my trainer wheel and back onto the cross wheel since the former is not disc and the later is disc.
Good luck with the Easter give-away.
Pyramid swim set tonight for ~60 min.
~15 mile run Saturday morning.
If it’s nice, hopefully an outside bike ride on Sunday. And then cutting wood. That counts, right?
I’m going to do do a couple long swims, trail running, and (weather permitting) a bike ride.
Wells Ave crit
Lots of running. Long run exploring the west side of Manhattan while I’m here and a tempo session.
Saturday – 60min easy run
Sunday – TLT (20min warmup, 20mins @tempo, 60min easy, 20mins @tempo, 20min cool down)
Recovery week, so:
Sat: Bike for 1.75 hours Z1/Z2
Sun: Swim for 1 hour, bike for 45 min Z2, run for 45 min easy
Waiting for the ATL to go down so the TSB is high enough for another long training ride. And the weather’ll improve, too. It’s Pittsburgh; it’s gonna be all about the hills.
Usual Long distance ride into the Japanese mountains. 170km 2000~2500m climbing
A long threshold trainer ride, a long run and a shorter run with strides.
Nothing fancy. We have a local gravel race series going on, so 50 miles drilling it on single speed Saturday morning, then (maybe) an easy 30-50 Sunday.
Organizing my weight area, because really I’m going to start some strength training this time, really I promise.
The weekend includes a 40 minute pool swim followed by a 3 hour ride. I hope the chocolate doesn’t melt on the ride sunday.
Taking my son for his first ever bike ride aged 4 months :)
3 hrs rogaine on Saturday and probably some x-country skiing on Sunday
Trainer sessions! On Saturday, one and a half hours of threshold intervals, and a 3 hour 15 minute spin on Sunday.
I’ll go for a 100 mile ride Saturday and something shorter Sunday
Take my new crosstrail out and log a few miles. Need to get back into shape, and ready for some 5k’s this summer.
Easy ride on Saturday then 16 miler at roughly marathon pace on Sunday.
Friday: 6 mile run
Saturday: 45 mile bike ride
Sunday: maybe another bike ride
Just a lot of stretching and maybe a light bike ride. Pulled my back at the gym on Wed :(
Going for a 3 hours long run in Saturday
Well, I’ll do nothing, JUST nothing!
I plan on around 2700y of swimming this evening.
Tomorrow I have a 8.5mile run.
– 2mile warm-up
– 2x(2mile z4 pace, .5 mile jog)
– 1.5mile cool-down
Sunday after Church I plan on a 2.5-3hr easy bike ride.
45 min ride on the indoor trainer tonight, 45 min ride on the indoor trainer early tomorrow morning, hopefully taking some runs down Cannon Mountain tomorrow afternoon. I would like to ride with Jeff Stevens Sunday if it’s nice out and I will be helping him with that wood he’s cutting.
Skiing all day Saturday, followed by skiing all day Sunday.
Social ride today, fast ride tomorrow, hills Monday!
I have my first marathon on the 10th of April, so this weekend I will be running a 3.5 hour course in preparation.
I’ll be swimming Saturday morning and riding up Mt. Wilson in Angeles National Forest in LA on Sunday!
10k run tonight and Sunday. Building up my km for an adventure race in May.
I plan on a block of Bloody Mary Repeats.
Oh boy! First workout with marathon-pace work on Sunday.
Let the sufferfest begin!
Half day skiing and then a 10 km run in the woods
Run, eat, drink beer, repeat.
Friday and Saturday weight training. Sunday is an optional run.
Swimming this morning, Huddersfield parkrun Saturday and a couple of hours on the bike Sunday morning.
I need to get my half marathon training back on track. I’m hoping for it to warm up so I can get a long run in!
Going for a 10k run each day now in preparartion for a beer run in Czech Republic :)
Weather is supposed to be nice here the next days so maybe i add some kilometers on the bike as well.
I am going to do a 2 hour mountain bike ride on Saturday and a 4K run on Sunday. I’m starting to include running in my workouts to eventually do a triathlon.
SAT: Brick – Bike to Run – Cycle for 80 Mins, Run a 5K
SUN: Bike for 105 Mins in the AM, Swim 1200M in the PM
I will do a virtual cycling training tonight and tomorrow, on sunday a short family walk ;-) and on monday a long (110 km) cycling training. That would be enough for the weekend :-D
I will take it easy and have a slow jog in the park. I just hope I won’t eat too much during Easter :)
A nice 10k trail run and mountainbiking to compensate the overload of chocolate eggs this weekend :-)
10mi Run + first time back on bike since broken clavicle
8 mile run in prep for 10 mile race next weekend.
Spinning class on Friday, then a 10K race on Saturday morning, followed by a long brunch on Sunday!
got a 11 mile run on sat, then off to the bike fitter for some adjustments, 2.5 hr tempo ride on sunday followed by an hour swim and a massage. Monday, swim stroke analysis and weight training. chocolate of 80% cocoa.
Saturday is chest and back, Sunday (early before the bunny) will be a run up Camelback Mountain. Thanks for the opportunity Ray!
I’m gonna go trail running in the pyrenees.
Will be doing a lazy 40 min swim workout over the weekend. Have a great Easter.
Long 18 to the in-laws for Easter lunch
20 mile long run. Last long run and onto taper phase.
Easy runs, holidays are not made for work.